Dear ,

May 15th was the 76th anniversary of the Nakba, a violent and catastrophic campaign by the State of Israel that saw tens of thousands of Palestinians killed, hundreds of towns and villages destroyed, and the removal of Palestinians from their homeland.

That cycle of violence continues to this day as we are witnessing a genocide of Palestinians in Gaza by the State of Israel.

Our government’s silence might be the same as it was then but the community is vocal in their opposition.

From rallies to street marches and university encampments, the people are making their voices heard and it’s leading to meaningful action – but we must keep it up, .

This week, the Greens took the people’s protest into Parliament once again to defend the right of university students to peacefully protest and call out the ongoing genocide on the anniversary of the Nakba.

WATCH HERE

Last Saturday, this community campaign forced Labor to vote in favour of extending Palestinian rights at the United Nations, but there is still so much to be done.

Right now, 6 million refugees reside outside of historical Palestine and are denied their inalienable right to return home.

3.2 million Palestinians live in the West Bank and are denied the right to vote by a state that rules over every inch of their lives

And 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza are facing a genocidal campaign by the State of Israel that has no end in sight and has not been held accountable by the global community.

To achieve a just and lasting peace, , we must end the cycle of violence.

That means stopping the genocide, ending the occupation, and sanctioning Prime Minster Netanyahu and his war cabinet immediately.

In solidarity,

Senator Jordon Steele-John
Greens spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Peace & Disarmament